Champions of Export Received Their Awards from President Erdoğan
Chairman of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly Mustafa Gültepe: Our exports have continued to show a modest increase this year. In the first five months, we recorded a 3.5% rise, while over the past twelve months, the increase stands at 1.9%. However, I must emphasize that we have been falling short of our targets for the last two and a half years. We are unable to maintain competitive pricing in many sectors, which leads to the loss of both customers and markets. Nearly half of our 27 sectors are registering negative figures almost every month.
The "32nd General Assembly and Champions of Export Awards Ceremony" of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) was held in Istanbul with the attendance of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and several ministers. Awards were presented by President Erdoğan to the top ten companies that contributed the most to Türkiye's total goods and services exports, which reached $377 billion in 2024, as well as to the leading firm in e-export.
During his speech at the ceremony, Chairman Mustafa Gültepe recalled that Türkiye exported approximately $262 billion in goods and $115 billion in services in 2024. Stressing that both goods and services exports reached record levels, Gültepe continued:
“Our exports have continued to show a modest increase this year. We are 3.5% up over the past five months and 1.9% up over the past twelve months. Despite rising geopolitical uncertainties, ongoing armed conflicts in our immediate region, weakening demand in global markets, tariff wars and protectionist measures, achieving growth is a significant accomplishment. Nonetheless, I must underscore that we have been underperforming relative to our targets for the last two and a half years. We are struggling to maintain competitive pricing in numerous sectors, which results in losing both customers and markets. Nearly half of our 27 sectors record negative growth nearly every month. The increase in exports is being sustained by the contributions of just a few sectors, whereas our aspiration is to achieve positive contributions from all. We bear the responsibility of reaching our 2028 target of $375 billion in goods exports and $200 billion in services exports. We aim to elevate Türkiye into the ranks of the world's top ten exporting countries. We are fully aware that to realize our medium- and long-term goals, we must increase our exports by at least 10% annually.”
“Sustainable Growth Can Only Be Achieved Through Production and Exports”
Highlighting that sustainable growth in the Turkish economy can only be achieved through production and exports, Gültepe reminded that exports made a negative contribution to economic growth over the past two quarters. Expressing hope for a return to the days when exports were the driving force of growth, Gültepe stated: “While we strive to resolve our cyclical challenges, we are also developing strategies and implementing policies to prepare our exports for the future. With a focus on increasing added value, we are concentrating on high technology, R&D, innovation, design, and twin transformation. We are investing significant efforts in expanding market diversity. In 2024, we participated in approximately 350 fairs and organized 135 trade missions. This year, we aim to attend around 400 fairs and organize 158 trade missions.”
“To Seize Opportunities, We Must Regain Our Competitiveness”
Underlining the critical importance of export-oriented companies' access to low-interest and long-term financing, Gültepe concluded his remarks as follows:
“Through İGE Inc., we have brought Türk Ticaret Bankası into the export family, and the bank has commenced operations. We aim to expand to 15 branches by the end of the year and provide TL 62 billion in financing to exporters. Türk Ticaret Bankası will both facilitate access to financing and act as a strategic solution partner for exporters. We also appreciate the support provided by our government in the area of financing. The increase of the foreign exchange conversion support from 2% to 3%, the reduction in the cost of rediscount credits, and the rise of the daily limit to TL 4 billion are highly significant. However, in order to grow our exports at the desired pace, it is crucial to further increase the foreign exchange conversion support, lower the interest rates on rediscount loans, raise the limits, and implement new projects that enable our companies to access low-interest, long-term credit. We are mindful that periods of heightened uncertainty also present opportunities. To be able to seize such opportunities, we must first and foremost reclaim our competitive edge.”
In addition to President Erdoğan, the ceremony was attended by Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, and Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak.
Top Companies in Goods and Services Exports in 2024, and Leaders in E-Export and by Sector
